An Interim Thought 23/08/2005 Very often it's what you don't say, you know. We are strange creatures and much of our communication consists of an expression about the eyes, a pause where none was expected, a tug of the ear or a sigh. Ask any married woman and she'll confirm that most of what she knows about her husband comes from what he never said.It's the same with writing. If we try to say it all, we end up with a textbook, something that leaves the reader with no room to add or interpret. The best work a writer does is in the selection of what really matters and in discarding the rest. The reader will supply the details, very often much more than the writer had imagined. So the piece, whatever it is, becomes a joint project, a framework upon which many possibilities can be draped. And this is how it becomes what we call "engaging".It is not a writer's trick, a technique that can be employed as part of a formula. The writing itself dictates what must follow next, the demands of flow require that each sentence is a result of the form and intent of the previous; the writer stands between the thought and the text, a filter that rejects far more than it accepts. That is not something that can be learned, I think.It is in blogging that one can see how this functions most immediately. The possibility of comments has introduced an extra dimension that moves the ancient skill of writing into new and untasted pastures. I have always thought that to write a book is to have an opportunity to have your say without fear of interruption. But to write a blog is merely to introduce a topic for discussion.Of course, this whole thought process has been brought about by my previous post, An Unlikely Dream. As many commenters pointed out, it is a simple story that functions on many levels and allows the readers to take from it what they will. But the contributions of the readers through the comments system have added to the original concept until it becomes a conversation touching on many subjects (and ending in a discussion of Linux, of all things!).Take, for instance, the perceptive thoughts of Trée (who has one of the most original and interesting blogs on the net): "I suppose everyone will read into the story what they will, and why not? Once posted the post is really not yours anymore but becomes a small piece of all who read it and in that way multiples itself into thousands of variations, like pieces of a mosiac, each individual, yet all part of the same. Beautiful message, as I filter the story throught my own lenses and see more of what is inside me than what is inside you."From a literary point of view, the comments system has raised the potential for blogging beyond its present achievements. The blogosphere is already becoming known to the outside world through the influence exerted by its political exponents. Is it possible that this new medium might impact the literary world in the same way? Will readers of the future expect to be given the opportunity to answer back? Must writers ply their trade with the knowledge that thousands peer over their shoulders even as they tap at the keyboard?It is something to think about. The book will not be supplanted, of that I am sure. But every day, as I learn more of blogging and bloggers, it strikes me more forcibly that this is something entirely new, a challenge to writers and a medium with potential that we have hardly begun to tap.And yes, you're right: I have not said it all...
Clive
Kurt Interesting post, Clive, and especially relevant to my life right now. As it stands, I have my blog, my ongoing RPG campaign story Rumblings of Darkness (I know it's bad pulp fiction, but it's fun and relaxing to write), and occasional entries on my main website to write, though I've been horribly negligent of that site; not to mention non-fiction entries on another new blog, and writing several user manuals at work at once. Each project has a different audience with different drives and different goals for reading what I write, and I have to adjust my mental filtering for each. It's okay if I stray a lot on my blog, or a little in my own fiction, but catch me starting to go off-topic on the topic of auto racing or business and people start to regard me as a 'bad writer'.
Comments are an interesting beast. I've actually experimented on my newest blog with disallowing them entirely, trying to take all discussion into a forum instead. Because it's blogging about my experiences on a topic which I know very little about, it has the possibility to bring up a lot of topics which could become ongoing; I'd rather say what I want to say without interruption, and have it serve as a catalyst for an ongoing forum discussion, rather than the usual blog paradigm of 'let's have a conversation as long as this is on the front page'. I'd love to see a blog with an algorithm that takes into account both date and number/frequency of comments when positioning entries on the front page. Date Added: 23/08/2005
Gone Away That's a lot of different forms of writing you have to juggle, Kurt. I count myself lucky that I am limited to two (well, maybe three). It will be interesting to see how the forum experiment pans out. I am unused to them but would they seem to be a valid alternative to the usual comments system, especially as any discussion that results would not expire as the post becomes buried in later ones. Date Added: 23/08/2005
Kurt I actually like having a lot on my plate at once, fortunately. The variety of styles is kind of hard to juggle sometimes, but I love having a pretty wide array of topics to deal with; I really do feel as if I'm learning a lot every day I do this. Because it's learning (which is something I love on its own merits), it doesn't really feel like work. That said, with this new project I'm at my saturation point, and holding off on new projects until I get back to school (thus going from 40 hours of work+10 hours of travel a week to 35 hours of work and class+2 hours of travel). Fortunately, I'm not a professional writer and thus I don't have a publisher trying to convince me it's chainsaws I'm juggling, not mostly unread blogs. :) Date Added: 23/08/2005
Gone Away Well, one of your blogs just got read and commented on, Kurt! ;) And it was excellent, as ever. Date Added: 23/08/2005
Robotnik I disagree w/you regarding Tree's blog. Date Added: 23/08/2005
John (SYNTAGMA) Clive, for all your talent and long experience, it's the mystic in you that we appreciate. I'm speaking for myself, of course. This nice little piece confirms that. "Originative" is a word I apply to writers I always want to read. I'm really looking forward to your book. Don't let the naysayers knock you off course. Date Added: 23/08/2005
Trée Clive, I'm at a lost for words. To see you mention my blog was the last thing I expected to see. Your kind words, as always, are deeply appreciated my friend. Once we log a post, the most interesting development begins to happen with the first reader and then the first comment. Much like a child, the post takes on a life of it's own, and as you pointed out, grows in the most unexpected and often delightful ways. The riches shared in comments left are wonderous, and my eyes are opened to views and interpretations that would have never occured to me. Second, the friendships formed with regular readers, and in the fight against cancer that my blog takes such a strong focus on much of the time, I see connections made and hope and strength shared by folks who would have never otherwise met. Many times I feel like a gardener watching the miracle of love and support bloom right before my eyes, and just like that gardener I marvel at the mystery of it all. I am forever thankful there is such a thing as the blogoshere. Clive, you bring a lot of great people together with your incredibly well written and insightful postings. Much thanks to you my friend. Date Added: 23/08/2005
Gone Away One man's meat is another man's poison, Aleks. ;) Date Added: 23/08/2005
Gone Away Ah, John, you mean "dreamer", don't you? Well, I can dream with the best of them. :D And the book will be published, of that I am determined. Date Added: 23/08/2005
Gone Away Trée, it has been a pleasure to dig around in your blog and find the treasures you have hidden there. Your insights have sparked much response in your readers, deservedly so. If I have mentioned your blog, it is because I feel that others should discover it, too. You are right about the blogosphere as well - a truly remarkable invention! Date Added: 23/08/2005
Glod I think maybe a new method of blogging is needed that exclude parents who follow their children via google. They don't really contribute to the conversation in the way they should. Maybe, apart from a select few for each blog, readers should be forced to contribute to the discussion (and deemed conversationable enough) before being allowed to read the post. Maybe people'd think of you as a jerk and read elsewhere in that case. Date Added: 23/08/2005
Gone Away Oh, Glod, I'm sure your parents have your best interests at heart as they track you down through the blogosphere (well, I have to say that, being as old as I am, don't I?). But the point of the comments is that anyone can do so (even the spammers). It's the game the whole family (of mankind) can play! Date Added: 23/08/2005
melly I like your post from all its angles. From the silent communication, through the 'not writing everything' (which I fully agree with), to the blogging and comments and the possibility of new form of literature. Lots of stuff to think about... If I like a post I usually stick around for the comments as well, and of course add my own just as I'm doing right now... There's been a lot of discussion lately around blogs I'm reading about the struggles fiction books are having, or about the eruption of new forms of media rather than straight paper novels. It's interesting to add your angle to that topic. I guess we are in the middle of a cultural revolution, but aren't sure what will be the end result. Date Added: 23/08/2005
Kurt One other thing I forgot to mention earlier, regarding a new kind of literature involving reader participation and 'reading over the shoulder'; how long before something like MoonEdit is implemented on such a scale that writing can become performance art? Will we see authors that invite fans to actually watch the writing process, or even to participate in it? Date Added: 23/08/2005
Gone Away Very true what you say about the struggles the publishers of fiction are having now, Melly (and here's me trying to go the "traditional" route to publishing my own fiction). It certainly seems that the future lies with the electronic publishing business. I think there's a lot of thought going on throughout the blogosphere regarding where this is all leading - and I don't just mean the literary side of it. I eavesdrop on the debate and then try to see how it can apply to the writers. A whole new world opens before us... Date Added: 23/08/2005
Gone Away Call me old fashioned, Kurt; I couldn't do it... Date Added: 23/08/2005
ME Strauss Such a wonderful post. Sorry I missed most of this great discussion. It seems my computer didn't wish to come out to play today. I see the words between the lines and almost hear you saying like Kurt's last comment, that blogging offers the theatrical version of the writing task--writing for a live audience. Perhaps not necessarily allowing the audience in for preproduction and dress rehearshal, though some typos on my blog and other bloggo template problems surely did that, still to have them there for when the curtain goes up. Ah the smell of the grease paint. . . Date Added: 23/08/2005
Gone Away Great analogy, Liz. I had not thought of it in that way. But you're right, it has the immediacy and contact of the stage. Well, well, perhaps Mad could teach me a few things in this... (he has a performing arts degree). Date Added: 24/08/2005
Autumn I came to check out your blog and began to read. I especially enjoyed reading the introvert post, each word individually and the whole thing as one. As I continued reading, I kept meaning to log off after each finished page - to continue at a later date. Then came "acceleration" and the time flew past 1 am. Excellent penmanship! Date Added: 24/08/2005
Gone Away Thank you, Autumn. And thank you especially for delving into previous posts - I know how time tugs at our shoulder when reading blogs, how it insists that we muct be gone, that we'll be late. You have brightened my day. :) Date Added: 24/08/2005
Mad I think Tolkein is a master of providing just enough description to allow the readers im magination to soar. N ice post Dad Date Added: 24/08/2005
Gone Away Thanks, Mad. :) .oO(Hmmm, do I want to get into a Tolkien discussion...?) Date Added: 24/08/2005
John (SYNTAGMA) Now on Tolkien ... heh, just kiddin'. Blogs are very powerful personal media. They can challenge mainstream media if they're good enough and well targeted. That's the challenge for the author. Building profile, gaining readership, being widely heard, pre-publication publicity, marketing the published book, all these can be done through blogs. Why do a book tour when you can talk to readers through blogs and comments? Date Added: 24/08/2005
Gone Away All true, John. Now all we have to do is the make the blogosphere known beyond its own shores. But it may be that the traditional media will do that for us - increasingly, there are newspaper articles and TV programs that mention it or attempt to explain it. Date Added: 24/08/2005
Trée "Now all we have to do is the make the blogosphere known beyond its own shores." Clive, I have given my blog address to all my co-workers and all my family and friends. Yet, 98% of my visitors are fellow bloggers. Of course, family and friends could just be "voting with their feet." Mmm . . . Date Added: 24/08/2005
Gone Away In my experience, Trée, family and friends don't look at your blog apart from once or twice, just to see what you're talking about. I guess they figure that, since they know you, there's no need for them to go online to see what you're doing. But the rest of the world learned how to use the internet eventually (thanks to Google) and they will come to the blogosphere in the end. At least, that's the theory... ;) Date Added: 24/08/2005
Kurt Interesting comments on friends and family with blogs. I find that my blog is a great way to keep in touch with the family; they get to see that I'm still alive here in NYC and follow some of the things I write about, so it saves us valuable phone time to talk about important things instead of how I'm doing, if everything's all right, etc. Date Added: 24/08/2005
Gone Away It makes a lot of sense to do that, Kurt. Just doesn't happen in my case, apart from my son Mad, of course. Date Added: 24/08/2005
Autumn Logging off this visit with a great affection for Johnny Bridle, wooed by your words! And feelings of envy brought about by your talent! :-) Date Added: 25/08/2005
Gone Away Thank you, Autumn, and I'm impressed by your stamina - getting all the way back to Johnny already, that's some reading! Date Added: 25/08/2005
Autumn Confession: I have been jumping around somewhat on today's visit using the contents page. Date Added: 25/08/2005
Gone Away That's what it's for Autumn! It really needs to be categorized to make it easier to navigate (my son, Mad, who does all the techie things behind the blog, is working on that). If it helps at all, I have listed the categories with the titles that they refer to in my post entitled Going, Going, Gone! Of course, it doesn't include the posts I've done since it was written but it might make things a bit less of a guessing game. :) Date Added: 25/08/2005
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